Abbeville council amends agenda to add student arts expo, hires firefighter, approves pay increases and infrastructure, condemns dilapidated properties

The Abbeville City Council on March 25 unanimously amended its agenda to add a presentation on a student arts expo and art walk planned for downtown Abbeville on April 12, then proceeded through personnel actions, property condemnations, infrastructure measures and several special-event approvals.

The presentation, introduced by Rachel Brown, Vermilion Parish supervisor of fine arts and world languages, and Brie (Bree) Sargent, education director at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, described a partnership between the Acadiana Center and Vermilion Parish School District that will take student performances and exhibitions into Magdalene Square and along Concord Street on April 12. “This event will be happening on Saturday, April 12 from 10AM until 4PM,” Brown said. Sargent added that the event will include “about 20 different performances by students on 3 different stages” plus visual exhibitions and hands-on activities, and that the Vermillion Arts Council will host an associated downtown art walk with more than 30 vendors.

On personnel, the council approved the hire of Randy Dalby as a firefighter for the Abbeville City Fire Department. The mayor introduced Dalby and confirmed his prior experience with the New Iberia Fire Department. The council took a voice vote; the motion carried.

The council next approved a 2% across-the-board annual increase for the city’s five unclassified employees for 2025. The mayor listed the five positions covered by the increase: digital media assistant Christian Lejeune, council assistant Lynn LeBlanc, mayor’s assistant Rainey Leje (also referenced as Rainey Lejeune in materials), Main Street manager Charlene (Beckett) Beckett, and code enforcement officer Brian Fisher. Council members voted in favor by voice vote and the motion carried.

Code enforcement officer Brian Fisher presented two long-running property cases. For 906 South Lyman, Fisher said the roof and interior were significantly damaged from a tree event several years ago, the owner had not completed promised repairs and the property posed a public-safety hazard; he recommended condemnation and bidding the structure for demolition. The council moved to condemn 906 South Lyman and authorize bids for demolition; the motion carried by voice vote.

For 311 East Vermilion Street Fisher noted the file goes back to 2021, that the structure had previously been condemned on May 16, 2023 with a six-week compliance deadline, and that the property remained noncompliant and exposed to trespass and unlawful activity. The council approved bidding demolition and removing the condemned structures; the motion carried by voice vote.

On utilities and infrastructure, council members approved up to $50,000 for maintenance improvements to an access road and related work on the utility easement off Highway 167 (Pensacola Kinney Road) to improve access for crews and reduce repeated storm-related outages. City staff explained options under review, including building an access road and selective undergrounding of portions of the distribution line that run through heavily treed areas; staff said the $50,000 authorization covers initial work and that the council will be notified if costs exceed that amount.

The council also approved converting certain electrical lines at the municipal airport from overhead to underground at an approximate cost of $19,706.66, to support planned hangar-area expansion; council members said airport funds would pay the cost. Separately the council adopted a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a bill of sale for the purchase of roughly 2 acres adjacent to the airport (the parcel was described as Section 29 Township 12 Range 4 near the airport); the mayor and council said airport funds would be used for the purchase.

The council approved construction contract adjustments for a street-and-sidewalk project on Graceland Avenue: change order number 2 extended contract time by 61 days because of inclement weather, and the council ratified payment estimate number 6 for $31,125.98 payable to Clan Leger Construction LLC. The council also ratified routine vendor payments noted on the agenda, including $7,072.14 to Abbeville Auto Paint and Body Shop and $8,987 to Procter Services for equipment repairs.

Council members approved a series of spring and Easter special events and park permits: a Student Arts Expo/Art Walk (April 12) in Magdalene Square and Concord Street, an Acomo Park Easter egg hunt (April 20), a Sugar Shack Trail Ride street access request (April 26–27) pending insurance and marshal coordination, the Junior Auxiliary spring carnival at Magdalene Square (April 5), and the Dynasty Easter Extravaganza at Aber Williams Park (April 19). Organizers described volunteer-led food, games, giveaways and planned safety coordination with city staff and the police department. The council approved the event permits by voice vote and, when noted, made approvals contingent on completing insurance and logistics paperwork.

Why it matters: the meeting combined public-facing cultural programming with routine municipal governance—personnel, public-safety actions on unsafe properties and infrastructure investments intended to reduce repeated power outages and to support airport-driven economic development. Several items (property condemnations, utility access work and airport land acquisition) tie directly to public safety, long-term service reliability and local economic planning.

Votes at a glance - Agenda amendment to add Student Arts Expo presentation: approved (unanimous voice vote). - Hire firefighter Randy Dalby (Abbeville Fire Department): approved (voice vote). - 2% annual increase for five unclassified positions (2025): approved (voice vote). - Condemn and bid demolition for 906 South Lyman: approved (voice vote). - Bid demolition and remove condemned structures at 311 East Vermilion Street: approved (voice vote). - Authorize up to $50,000 for maintenance/improvements to utility easement access road (Highway 167 / Pensacola Kinney Road): approved (voice vote); staff to return if estimate exceeds $50,000. - Convert airport overhead electrical lines to underground (~$19,706.66) funded from airport funds: approved (voice vote). - Adopt resolution authorizing mayor to execute bill of sale for ~2 acres adjacent to airport (purchase funded from airport funds): approved (voice vote). - Approve Graceland Avenue change order #2 (61 contract days extension) and payment estimate #6 ($31,125.98 to Clan Leger Construction LLC): approved (voice votes and roll). - Ratify vendor payments reported on the agenda (amounts noted in meeting packet): approved (voice votes).